Machine for preparing fibers for spinning.



'PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

I M. 00LLINS.' MAGHINBPOR PREPARING FIBERS FOR SPINNING.

.AIjPLIOA'EION FILED JAN. 18. 190].

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ing-engine with the invention applied thereto,

. MICHAEL COLLINS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING FIBERS FOR SPINNING.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed January 16, 1907. Serial No. 352,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL COLLINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines forPreparing Fibers for Spinning, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in a licker-in of new and useful construction andcharacter for use in machines for I preparing, etc., cotton.

The invention has for its general object to attain improved results inpreparing cotton fibers for spinning, cleaning the fibers, and drawingthem to the cylinder of a carding engine or other preparing machine.

In conformity with the invention I have supplied the periphery of arotating cylinder with wire-toothed clothing having the faces of theteeth formed to operate in part as cleaning teeth and to rake back fromthe surface of the cylinder, and in part as drawing or lickerin teethand to rake forward, or to point straight from the surface of thecylinder, as preferred.

The licker-in embodying the invention is used in combination with thefeeding devices, and cylinder, of a carding engine or other preparingmachine.

In a machine constructed and arranged as in the ac companying drawing,the usual feed-roll advances the fibers to, and the face of the usualfeed-plate-supports them against, the teeth of the licker-in, whichoperate on the advancing fibers.

The cleaning teeth do not draw the fibers forward, but comb from themseed, leaf, motes, and other foreign or defective matter. They operatein combination with the drawing or licker-in teeth, which, after onerevolution of the cylinder, follow in the path of the cleaning teeth,and, passing freely between the cleaned fibers, draw the latter, whenseparated from the feed-- ing devices, to the cylinder.

In the drawings,Figure 1 shows a section of a card- Fig. 2 shows alicker-in embodying my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional detailviews illustrating the different forms of toothed clothing which I applyto the licker-in in conformity with my invention.

Having reference to the drawings, in Fig. 1, the feeding-devices of acarding engine are indicated at 1, 2, the feed-plate being designated 1,and 2 being the feedroll. At 3 is represented a licker-in. At iisrepresented a portion of the main cylinder. the working surfaces of thefeed-roll 2, licker-in 3, and main cylinder 4 are indicated by dottedlines. At 5 is a straight-edge or mote-knife, it having the working Inthis figure edge thereof located in close proximity to the toothedsurface of the licker-in. At 6 is represented the screen beneath thelicker-in.

The foregoing parts are or may be constructed, combined, and arranged tooperate as usual heretofore, or as preferred, and, save with respect tothe teeth thereof, the licker-in is or may be constructed as heretoforeor as preferred. Fig. 2 shows the body thereof formed with groovesextending spirally around its periphery, and with toothed wire wound inthe spiral grooves, all as commonly the case in the construction of thelike cylinders or rolls in practice. Certain of the said teeth havetheir faces formed in part to rake back from the surface of thecylinder, as at 32, and are arranged to comb from the fibers seed, leaf,motes, and other foreign and defective matters before they have passedfrom the feeding devices, and the others thereof have their faces formedto point as is usual with drawing or licker-in teeth straight from itssurface, or to rake forward as at 31, and are arranged to draw thecleaned fibers, after they have passed from the feeding devices, to themain cylinder of a carding enginein the usual way.. i

The improved licker-in operates first to clean the fibers before theyhave passed from the feeding de vices, and, after the cleaned fibershave passed from the feeding devices, to do the usual work of alicker-in by drawing them to the main cylinder of ,the carding engine.

I have herein described the invention more particularly with referenceto the employment thereof at the entering end of the form of preparingmachine known as a carding engine, but I wish it to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to use in a machine constructed preciselyas indicated in the drawings, or in this particular form of preparingmachine. limit myself to location of the invention at the feeding end ofthe machine, for my improved cylinder is equally adapted to be employedin some intermediate portion of the machine and the invention will bepresent so long as the same principles are involved, that is to say, solong as the cylinder, whatever it may be called, has the teeth formed asspecified herein, and so long as it is employed to operate substantiallyas herein explained in connection with devices for gradually presentingthe fibers to the action of the said cylinder.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for preparing fibers forspinning, a rotating licker-in cylinder furnished with saw-toothedc1othing having the faces of the teeth formed in part to rake back fromthe surface of the cylinder.

Nor, do I 2. In a machine for preparing fibers for spinning, a ro tatinglicker-in cylinder furnished with teeth set so that the faces of theteeth point from the surface of the cylinder at different angles.

3. In a machine for preparing fibers for spinning, the combination withmeans for feeding or advancing fibers gradually and holding them whilebeing acted upon by a succeeding cylinder until delivered up thereto, ofthe said cylinder furnished with saw-toothed clothing having the facesof the teeth formed in part to rake back from the sur- 1O MICHAELCOLLINS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL, EDITH .T. ANDERSON.

